So, You Want to Know Who's Paying for The Mayor's European Vacation? Well, Then ...

​Right about now, Mayor Tom Leppert, council member Ron Natinsky, state Rep. Rafael Anchia, Office of Economic Development head Karl Zavikovsky and a few other folks on the Dallas trade mission to Europe are probably fast asleep following a nice meal hosted by Fomento Construcciones y Contratas. That is, if I read my itineraries right.

Speaking of: In the note about the officials' European vacation, City Hall was sure to point out that the trip wasn't being paid for by taxpayers, but that "Mayor Leppert has raised money for a special World Affairs Council fund which will finance the trip. This fund facilitates trade and cultural travel for city officials." Several Friends of Unfair Park demanded more details -- like, who's funding the fund, dig? Transparency and all that.

So. Per the instructions of Chris Heinbaugh, the mayor's chief of staff and a member of the traveling party, I called Jim Falk, head of the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth, and asked him for a list of donors. Moments ago, Kim Rice, the council's director of marketing and communications, was kind enough to send over a list, along with the note: "The International Relations Fund was established to support the City of Dallas' international activities that promote economic development. Contributions range from $2,500 to $5,000."